When you ask Elisabeth Archibald how she managed to crush the legendary Pike’s Peak Ascent this year, she’ll tell you it came down to two things: consistency and discipline.

“I don’t have natural athletic talent,” she says. “I’ve always had to work hard. But consistency and discipline—that’s where healthy changes are made. It doesn’t matter what you do occasionally; what matters is your daily routine.”

At 46, Elisabeth is proof that showing up for yourself every day can lead to extraordinary achievements. But her journey hasn’t been easy.

Finding Her Way Back to Health

Elisabeth’s early life was shaped by a family that valued healthy habits, but she describes herself as someone who had to fight for fitness. After starting her engineering career at Cessna in 2001, she gained weight from long hours at a desk job. That changed when she joined a Monday night running group known as 5@5. “I started running with that group, lost weight, and even ran a marathon,” she says.

But life soon brought challenges - losing her parents and grandparents, and entering an unhealthy marriage. “I gained 80 pounds and became a shell of a person,” Elisabeth says. When her marriage ended in 2021, she knew it was time to take her life back.

With the support of friends, she cleaned up her diet, started running again, and rejoined her old running crew in 2023. The group welcomed her back with open arms, and before long, she was training consistently once again.

Crushing Big Goals

Since recommitting to her health, Elisabeth has shed 70 pounds and tackled a list of races that keeps growing: four half marathons, a 25K trail run, and most recently, the Pike’s Peak Ascent - a half marathon with an impressive 7,815 ft of elevation gain. 

“Pikes Peak was a tough mental and physical challenge,” she says. “Both the training leading up to it and the race itself. I ended up smashing my goal by a lot. It gave me a major boost of confidence that I can do hard things.”

Next on her horizon? A return to the marathon. “I ran the Johnston’s Wichita Marathon in 2005 and thought I’d never do another. But why not? Gotta keep crushing goals.”

Support Along the Way

Like many athletes, Elisabeth has faced injuries along her comeback journey. “When I started consistently running again in 2024, I experienced sharp hip pains. NWP and Dr. Allison gave me exercises to strengthen my hips, and now my hip pain is almost non-existent.”

She’s still working through some foot pain, but trusts the process: “I have confidence that I’ll get through this too."

She also credits TJ’s Running Family with helping her find her stride again. “The judgment-free encouragement from the coaches and other members has given me the confidence to push my limits and crush goals. They truly are family to me.”

Living Life Fully

Outside of running, Elisabeth loves biking, swimming, and traveling. A self-proclaimed foodie, she sticks to clean eating at home so she can fully enjoy the cultural and culinary adventures that travel brings.

She’s also brave enough to jump out of a plane and has been skydiving in Hawaii. 

For Elisabeth, movement is more than just exercise; it’s also foundational for her mental health. “I never want to go back to that mentally and physically unhealthy person I was five years ago. Running gives me energy, resilience, and joy.”

Words of Wisdom

Her advice for others is simple but powerful: show up for yourself.

“Consistency and discipline matter most. And do your PT exercises as prescribed! You won’t heal your pain or injury unless you commit to the process.”

With her sights set on a marathon in 2026, and maybe even another triathlon in the future, we have no doubt Elisabeth will keep finding new ways to push her limits. As she’s proven, the real magic happens when you decide to show up day after day.